Tape handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for handling a continuous loop fanfold paper tape comprises a storage receptacle into which the tape is folded after the reading thereof. A curved guide means at the exit of the receptacle together with a curved guide wall spaced therefrom allows each fold of the tape to be smoothly withdrawn while the previous fold bows outwardly from the outlet opening without distortion of the tape.

United States Patent inventor Joseph W. Demke l-lillsboro, Oreg. Appl. No. 761,080 Filed Sept. 20, 1968 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 v Assignee Tektronix,1nc.

Beaverton, Oreg.

a corporation of Oregon TAPE HANDLING APPARATUS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,032,287 5/1962 Katz 226/118X 3,190,639 6/1965 Johnson et a1. 270/61F 3,311,279 3/1967 Yeiser 226/118 3,464,611 9/1969 Verdone 226/1 19 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Buckhorn, Blore, Klarquist & Sparkman 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 226/119 Int. Cl B65h 17/42 Field of Search 226/1 18. 119, 196, 113;270/61F PATENTEU JAN 1 9 I97! SHEET 1 [IF 3 JOSEPH W. DEMKE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PATENTEU'JAH 1 9 I97! SHEEI 2 OF 3 JOSEPH W. DE MKE INVE N 7' 0/? BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JAN 1 9 |97| 3 556; 374

sum 3 OF 3 JOSEPH W, DEM KE //VVE/V7'0/? BY BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST G/SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS 'r' 'APE'n NbtJmo APPARATUS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTIO I Numerous devices a're available for'irapid handling of an in- 1 5 formation-containing medium such as magnetic tape. punched paper tape, or the like Howeverfmost of thede'vices include supply' 'spoolsandtakeup spools for-the mediuni', and' are not well adapted'for transporting a long continuous loop of tape past a reading-head; Instead. rewiriding 'is'usually required. Devices of the spool type which do handle 'a continuous loop of tape of some length are either quite complicated, involvingelaborate loop suspensions or supporting arrangements, or 1 else are adaptable primarily to very narrow widths of tape. Frequently, a loop of tape isaccommodated merely in'a container underneath the reading apparatus, but if the. loop is quite long, the tape 'ni ay'become fouled or broken. I

Fanfold paper"pro'gramming' tape is not wound on'a spool, I

but is generally stored folded in a: first compartment from second compartmentl 'l'his type of tape is not ordinarily emloyed forcontinuous loop operation. If repetit'i've'or continuous' program information -'is'.desired,-the reading process is usually interrupted. and the tape is started through again;

.lsu MARYJorriiemvE NTroN ,if

According the presentjinventionl fanfolil joined'to provide a'continuousloop, and this tape stored in a receptacle providedwithan upper inlet opening and a lower I DRAWINGS I FIG. I a front view ofa tape handling apparatus according.

to the present inventiomand FIGS. 2.through 7 illustrate various further stages in ,the

operation of the tape handlingapparatus according. to the present invention.

II I DETAILED oescn ariou Referring" to FlCiv l. the tape-handling apparatus according to the present invention-is suitably mounted on a metal panel 10 adapted to be secured in a cabinet or rack of electronic which it is fedt hrou'ghare'ader'beforebeing deposited in a equipment. Mounted upon. the panel is'a standard paper tape readinghead liand a drive unit 14 for rotating rubber faced capstan ordrive rollers l6 and I8. Rollers l6 and 18 propel punched paper-tape 20 beneath reading head and then into a receptacle ll which is-also mountedupon panel 10. The

paper tapeis'suitably code punched orlpe'rforated tape containing program information which is to be read by head 12. A

programtape of this type is suitably fanfolded as illustrated at 28 within receptacle 22.5and, in accordance with the present invention, the start of the .tape .is suitably joined to .the end of the tape. to provide a continuous program loop which is then drivenby rollers 16 and 18 under the readinghead without inie'rruption.- Receptacle 22 comprises'hupper and lower end I walls 24 and'26 defining thewidth of the receptacle to-rceivc I a plurality .of folds 28 of the tape. with the end walls being ad- .jacent the multiplyfoldedends of such tape.

outlet opening. The "reading mechanism discharges the tape into this receptaclewherein the tape assun i'esa 'folded "coridition. The tapelis withd 'ng froin Itheyreceptacle arounda guide adjacent-the lower outlet opening of the receptacle. with the next to the last fold of tape protrudingor bowing through the outlet opening as the last fold of tape is withdrawnaround the guide means. The guide means and the outlet opening are I arranged for avoiding creasing or deformation ,ofthe tape,-

originally intended. I I I II Accordingto apreferred embodiment of the present inven- .The receptacle-also comprisesupper sidewalls 30a and 30b. and lower sidewalls 32a and 32b. An inlet opening 34. through which tape 20 is received..is defined'between wall portions 300 and 30b which bow outward, i.e. upward. toward opening '34. Likewise. an outlet-opening 36 having arreffe'ctive width. a i and through which the tape is withdrawn; is defined between wallportions 32a and 32b. Theopenings arerespectively adjacent the faces of the folds of tape on either side of I I whereby no foldstake place the-tape iothenthan those tion. the outlet opening ofthetape receptacle is provided wi'th I the plurality'of folds in receptacleZZ'; The wall elements 24. 26,.30a. 30b, 32a, and 32b are secured perpendicularlyto "panel '10 as by welding or by means of brackets (not shown),

with the panel 10 forming the back'wallof the receptacle. The forward face of the-receptacle, as viewed in FlGJ. is suitably open, or maybe closed and provided witha door if so desired for'enclosing the fanfolded tape within such receptacle.

- The longerwalls of thereceptacle, i.e. walls 30a, 30b, and I 32a, 32b.e: rtend at'an angle to the vertical whereby the weight of the tape tends to cause the tape'to bow downwardly and to the right towardontlet opening ss'inrlo. l.'Also the tape It is accordingly an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved apparatus for accommodating a continuous loop of recording medium so that such loop may continuously cooperate with a reading meanewmin means. orthe like.

. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an 2 improved system for handling a continuous loop of fanfold paper tape. I II I I It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for accommodating continuously available fanfold paper tape without producing undesired creasing or distortion of such tape. I v

r The subject matter which I regard as my invention. is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the including portion of this specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operatiom together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be un- "tends'to' bow downwardly inasmuch aswall portions 32a and 32b bo'w outwardly or downwardly toward opening 36.

The folded ends of the tape are generally perpendicular to end walls 24 and 26, with the latter' supporting oneset of folded ends. Thelon'g wallsof the receptacle are also desirably disposed at an angle to the horizontal such that the receptacle extends diagonally upward from end wall 26. as shown, whereby wall 26 is other than horizontal but whereby the receptacle isfmost advantageously accommodated in the minimum amount of panel space for a given length of tape fold. In order to reduce further the space occupied bythe I receptacle,'and in order to enhance the bow of the tape folds toward outlet opening 36. upper end wall 24 is desirably horizontal rather than being parallel to lower end wall 26.

The tape. in passingthe reading station comprising reading head 12. is guided between a first guide means38 and a j I second guide means 40, wherein the latter guide means is on the opposite side of rollers 16 and 18 fromreading head 12 derstood by referenceto the following description taken in connection vwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elementsl-- I and adjacent inletopening 34. The guide means 40 is desirably adjacentand just above the lower 'wall' portion 30b of the receptacle. Guide means 38 and 40 suitably comprise rollers or spool-shaped cylindrical pins which may or may not rotate, and which have beveled end portions for guiding the tape along the desired path. The wall portion 30b iscurved outwardly under guide means 40 for receiving and guiding a' downwardly extending fold of tape into the receptacleas will be seen in FIG. 4. Similarly, wall portion 30a is curved outwardly from the receptacle above guide means 40 for guiding an upwardly extending fold of tape into the receptacle as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The tape in leaving receptacle 22 is withdrawn around a third guide means 42 adjacent outlet opening 36, and specifically adjacent wall portion 32b of the receptacle. The latter guide means is desirably closely adjacent wall portion 32b. and hence the upper edge thereof defines an effective opening width, a, for outlet opening 36, the opening being smaller than it would be in the absence of guide means 42. From guide means 42 the tape passes under the receptacle and around an external or fourth guide means 44 comprising a metal wall, curved into a large radius, and secured to panel 10. From guide means 44 the tape 20 proceeds back over guide means 38 to the reading station.

A curved guide wall 46 extends wall portion 32a, i.e. the wall on the opposite side of the outlet opening 36 from guide means 42. Guide wall 46 opens curvilinearly outwardly of the receptacle in spaced relation around guide means 42 to a position coincident with a lower horizontal guide platform 48 pe rpendicularly secured to panel 10. Note that guide wall 46 smoothly continues the outward bow of wall portion 32a at an increasingly larger angle until guide wall 46 starts curving around guide means 42 in spaced relation thereto. Guide wall 46 in effect extends the outlet opening and provides a guide for accommodating and directing unfolding bowed loops of tape. It has been found that the effective width, 0, of the outlet opening should be at least approximately 1% inches, such that the tape does not become pinched or distorted as it is withdrawn from the receptacle. In a specific example of the present invention, four-mil tape was employed. For thinner tape, a somewhat smaller opening may be usable. Since guide wall 46 extends the opening, curving around guide means 42, the width, b, which is also effectively the width of the outlet opening, should likewise be no smaller than the above criteria.

It is additionally found that the effective width of the outlet opening should not be greater than approximately one-half the length of a fold of tape, or of the dimension of the receptacle between walls 24 and 26, whereby more than one fold of tape will not lower from the receptacle without being withdrawn therefrom. It should be noted that while these dimensions are important, they are none the less rather approximate. That is. tape should be withdrawable from an opening of sufficient size to avoid creasing or deforming the tape, while the opening is not so large that more than one fold of tape is accidentally withdrawn. Both the outlet opening 36 and the inlet opening 34 should be approximately centrally located in the respective long walls of the receptacle.

Also, guide means 42 should have a radius of curvature of approximately three-eighths of an inch to prevent creasing or deforming of the tape, i.e. it should have a diameter of threequarters of an inch or more, when, for example, 4-mil paper tape is employed. This dimension is likewise somewhat ap proximate. Furthermore, it is desirable, but not necessary, that guide means 42 be cylindrical. Such guide means may, for example, be octagonal or have some other shape approximating a curve of sufficient radius such that creasing or deforming of the tape does not take place as the tape is withdrawn therearound.

FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, showing the tape in various successive positions. FIG. 1 illustrates a first position of the tape wherein the plurality of folds 28 are housed within receptacle 22. Tape 20 passes around guide means 42 as indicated and rests upon platform 48, then passing around guide means 44, and so one. In FIG. 2, rollers 16 and 18 have pulled tape 20 a little farther for withdrawing the top crease or end of the last fold from the top of the receptacle. In the process, the next to the last fold, 50, protrudes outwardly through opening 36. forming a small loop in so doing. However, the dimensions a and b (see FIG. I). are large enough so that the tape does not become folded or deformed at other than the desired locations where it is already folded.

In FIG. 3, the next to the last fold 50 is further withdrawn with the last fold being guided along guide wall 46. In FIG. 4. fold 50 has popped" to the right, with fold 50 now becoming the last fold. which is about to be withdrawn around guide means 42. In FIG. 5, the tape 20 is taut around guide means 42. Then. as illustrated in FIG. 6, the now next to the last fold 52 bows outwardly along guide wall 46, as a lower end crease is pulled up from the bottom of receptacle 22. Thus. each fold of tape as withdrawn from receptacle 22 causes the next fold of tape to bow from the outlet opening 36 with sufficient curvature to avoid deforming the tape. Guide wall 46 accommodates or guides unfolding loops of tape in the illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 7, the lower end crease has been pulled around guide means 42. As tape 20 is withdrawn further, the next position of the tape is illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the tape has been withdrawn in a manner to retain the initial folded condition thereof without imparting further distortion. lfsuch were not the case, the tape would not rcfold when reintroduced through inlet opening 34.

The entrance of the tape into the receptacle will now be considered. Starting with FIG. I, it is noted the incoming tape has its top crease guided up along wall portion 30a. Then, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tape is bowed inwardly, laying down a fold of tape 54 within the receptacle. In FIG. 4, as fold 54 is substantially within the receptacle, wall portion 30b acts as a fair lead for guiding a next fold of tape, 56, into the proper location at the lower end of the receptacle. As illustrated successively in FIGS. 5, 6. and 7, fold 56 is further guided into the receptacle until an upper crease thereof is adjacent wall portion 30a as seen in FIG. 7. The fold 56 is guided substantially completely into the receptacle along the other folds 28 as further viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While the apparatus according to the present invention is particularly efficacious for handling a closed loop of tape, it will also be appreciated that the same apparatus may be employed for fanfold tape where the beginning of the tape is not connected to the end. In such instance, the tape is fed through the station comprising reading head 12 and into receptacle 22 where it may be stored until needed. Then, the start of the fanfold tape may be withdrawn from exit opening 36 and fed through the reading station once again. A writing mechanism for punching holes in the tape may obviously be substituted for reading head 12 if so desired. It should also be noted the system according to the present invention requires no power in addition to that provided by the tape drive to rollers 16 and 18 associated with the reading or writing station.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects. 1 therefore intend the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invcntion.

Iclaim:

l. A storage device for storing a tape having a fanfold area comprising:

receptacle means having a width to accommodate the fanfold area of the tape, said receptacle means having an inlet opening through which the tape enters said receptacle means and an outlet opening out of which the tape leaves said receptacle means;

drive means for driving the tape into and out of said receptacle means;

inlet guide means adjacent said inlet opening and having curved surface means along which the tape moves as it is being fed into said receptacle means to fold the tape along the fold lines without deforming the tape; and

outlet guide means adjacent said outlet opening and having curved surface means extending along a portion of said outlet opening to cause the folds of the tape when being withdrawn from said receptacle means to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming the tape.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means is angularly disposed with respect to the vertical such that folds of tape are forced by gravity toward said outlet opening, said receptacle including a lower end wall for supporting the ends of a plurality of folds of tape.

3. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising:

a receptacle having a width between end walls thereof ac commodating a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends ofsuch tape. said receptacle also having sidewalls respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality offolds',

said receptacle having an inlet opening in a sidewall thereof at a location spaced between said end walls for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening in a second sidewall through which said tape is withdrawn, said outlet opening being relatively large compared with the thickness of said tape; and

a guide means over which said tape passes adjacent the outlet opening and having curved surface meansextending along a portion of said outlet opening for contacting the tape and causing folds of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming the tape as said tape is withdrawn from said outlet opening. while at the same time smoothly guiding said tape for egress from said outlet opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the second sidewall of said receptacle bows toward said outlet opening" causing said tape to have a tendency tobow from said outlet opening when a force for withdrawing the same is exerted upon the tape.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first mentioned sidewall bows toward said inlet opening for engaging tape ends to bring about folding of the same without deforming the tape.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 further including guide means adjacent said inlet opening.

7. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising:

a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape;

said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn, respec tively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds within said receptacle,

a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening, said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover, wherein said guide means has a radius of curvature of at least approximately three-elghths inch and wherein the effective width of the outlet opening is at least approximately 1% inches and not more then approximately one-half the length of a fold of said tape; and

a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.

8. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising:

a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape;

said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn, respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds within said receptacle;

wherein the walls of said receptacle bow toward said outlet opening causing said tape to have a tendency to bow from said outlet opening when a force for withdrawing the same is exerted upon the tape, said walls of said receptacle also bowing toward said inlet opening;

a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening, said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover; and

a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.

9. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising:

a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape;

said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn; respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said i plurality of folds within said receptacle, said receptacle being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical such that the folds oftape, are forced by gravity toward said outlet opening;

a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening. said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover;

said guide means adjacent said outlet opening being located at one side of saidoutlet opening, and a guide wall extending from the opposite side thereof and opening curvilinearly outwardly of said receptacle in spaced relation around said guide means for accommodating unfolding bowed loops of tape; and

a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 having a guide means adjacent a lower side of said inlet opening wherein the wall of said receptacle between a lower end of said receptacle and said guide means adjacent said inlet opening is curved outwardly from said receptacle for guiding a downwardly extending fold of tape into said receptacle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle includes a lower end wall for supporting the ends of a plurality of folds of tape, said end wall being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a fold of tape.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said receptacle includes an upper end wall which is substantially horizontal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle including the walls thereof is supported perpendicularly upon a vertical panel and further includes a lower horizontal guide platform supported perpendicularly from said panel extending from said guide wall.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 further including a curved guide means around which the loop of tape extends externally to said receptacle in passing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening of said receptacle.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle is also angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal with said outlet opening on the lower side thereof, and wherein said guide means adjacent the outlet opening is located at the lower side of said outlet opening, said guide wall extending from the opposite side of said outlet opening above said guide means and opening curvilinearly outwardly of said receptacle in spaced relation around said guide means to a location below said guide means.

16. The method for handling a continuous loop of fanfold tape comprising:

driving said tape past a tape operating station into a recepta cle;

directing said tape for folding the same as said tape enters said receptacle;

continuously withdrawing subsequent folds of said tape from said receptacle including withdrawing a given fold maintaining said bow after substantial exit of said bow from said receptacle as said tape substantially straightens between said given fold and said precious fold. 

1. A storage device for storing a tape having a fanfold area comprising: receptacle means having a width to accommodate the fanfold area of the tape, said receptacle means having an inlet opening through which the tape enters said receptacle means and an outlet opening out of which the tape leaves said receptacle means; drive means for driving the tape into and out of said receptacle means; inlet guide means adjacent said inlet opening and having curved surface means along which the tape moves as it is being fed into said receptacle means to fold the tape along the fold lines without deforming the tape; and outlet guide means adjacent said outlet opening and having curved surface means extending along a portion of said outlet opening to cause the folds of the tape when being withdrawn from said receptacle means to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming the tape.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle means is angularly disposed with respect to the vertical such that folds of tape are forced by gravity toward said outlet opening, said receptacle including a lower end wall for supporting the ends of a plurality of folds of tape.
 3. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising: a receptacle having a width between end walls thereof accommodating a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape, said receptacle also having sidewalls respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds; said receptacle having an inlet opening in a sidewall thereof at a location spaced between said end walls for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening in a second sidewall through which said tape is withdrawn, said outlet opening being relatively large compared with the thickness of said tape; and a guide means over which said tape passes adjacent the outlet opening and having curved surface means extending along a portion of said outlet opening for contacting the tape and causing folds of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming the tape as said tape is withdrawn from said outlet opening, while at the same time smoothly guiding said tape for egress from said outlet opening.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the second sidewall of said receptacle bows toward said outlet opening causing said tape to have a tendency to bow from said outlet opening when a force for withdrawing the same is exerted upon the tape.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first mentioned sidewall bows toward said inlet opening for engaging tape ends to bring about folding of the same without deforming the tape.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 3 further including guide means adjacent said inlet opening.
 7. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising: a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape; said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn, respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds within said receptacle, a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said Tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening, said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover, wherein said guide means has a radius of curvature of at least approximately three-eighths inch and wherein the effective width of the outlet opening is at least approximately 1 1/2 inches and not more then approximately one-half the length of a fold of said tape; and a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.
 8. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising: a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape; said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn, respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds within said receptacle; wherein the walls of said receptacle bow toward said outlet opening causing said tape to have a tendency to bow from said outlet opening when a force for withdrawing the same is exerted upon the tape, said walls of said receptacle also bowing toward said inlet opening; a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening, said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover; and a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.
 9. An apparatus for supporting a fanfold tape comprising: a receptacle having a width to accommodate a plurality of folds of fanfold tape at the respective multiply folded ends of such tape; said receptacle having an inlet opening for receiving said tape and through which said tape is folded, and an outlet opening through which said tape is withdrawn, respectively adjacent faces of said folds on either side of said plurality of folds within said receptacle, said receptacle being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical such that the folds of tape are forced by gravity toward said outlet opening; a guide means adjacent the outlet opening over which said tape suitably extends in passing toward the inlet opening, said guide means having substantial curvature to avoid deforming said tape passing thereover; said guide means adjacent said outlet opening being located at one side of said outlet opening, and a guide wall extending from the opposite side thereof and opening curvilinearly outwardly of said receptacle in spaced relation around said guide means for accommodating unfolding bowed loops of tape; and a fold of said tape when withdrawn from said receptacle across said guide means causing the next fold of tape to bow from said outlet opening with a curvature to avoid deforming said tape.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 having a guide means adjacent a lower side of said inlet opening wherein the wall of said receptacle between a lower end of said receptacle and said guide means adjacent said inlet opening is curved outwardly from said receptacle for guiding a downwardly extending fold of tape into said receptacle.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle includes a lower end wall for supporting the ends of a plurality of folds of tape, said end wall being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a fold of tape.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said receptacle includes an upper end wall which is substantially horizontal.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle including the walls thereof is supported perpendicularly upon a vertical panel and further includes a lower horizontal guide platform Supported perpendicularly from said panel extending from said guide wall.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 9 further including a curved guide means around which the loop of tape extends externally to said receptacle in passing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening of said receptacle.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said receptacle is also angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal with said outlet opening on the lower side thereof, and wherein said guide means adjacent the outlet opening is located at the lower side of said outlet opening, said guide wall extending from the opposite side of said outlet opening above said guide means and opening curvilinearly outwardly of said receptacle in spaced relation around said guide means to a location below said guide means.
 16. The method for handling a continuous loop of fanfold tape comprising: driving said tape past a tape operating station into a receptacle; directing said tape for folding the same as said tape enters said receptacle; continuously withdrawing subsequent folds of said tape from said receptacle including withdrawing a given fold from said receptacle and bowing the previous fold as said given fold is withdrawn from said receptacle; and guiding said previous fold of said tape while temporarily maintaining said bow after substantial exit of said bow from said receptacle as said tape substantially straightens between said given fold and said precious fold. 